EAST LANSING, Mich. -- This was Big Ten football at its best and worst, low-scoring and run-heavy and chippy, with every yard, much less every point, a minor victory. Urban Meyer took it, and gave it a big victory hug.

After the Buckeyes' 17-16 win over Michigan State on Saturday, the OSU coach celebrated with his team in the locker room, then smiled and hugged wife Shelley and son Nate outside Spartan Stadium, now 1-0 as a head coach in Big Ten conference play.

"Just to see him in the locker room after that win almost brings tears to your eyes," OSU senior right tackle Reid Fragel said. "He was so joyful. It just felt like he was one of the guys. It was a really cool atmosphere, and I really think he started to embrace the whole thing."

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It wasn't easy, as the Buckeyes trailed, 13-10, late in the third quarter before a 63-yard touchdown pass from Braxton Miller to Devin Smith put them back ahead for good.

It wasn't pretty, as Miller went down twice with injuries but came back in the game. He also fumbled twice and threw an interception -- all in Michigan State territory.

But, "It's all worth it," Shelley Meyer said, five games into her husband's return to coaching. "Sometimes I say, 'Why are we doing this again?' But we just can't get away from these kids. It's a great atmosphere. It's fun. Everyone is good. Urban is good. He handled this very well. It was very stressful, but he did great. And he just loves this team so much.

OSU coach Urban Meyer calls players family membersOhio State coach Urban Meyer said his heart almost stopped when Braxton Miller went down with a knee injury that turned out to be fine, because he is starting to see his players as family members. On Sept. 29, 2012.

"That one point is all you need. We knew how hard this would be. It's the first conference game, and we haven't been playing perfect, so it's a huge, huge win."

It was a lot like No. 14 Ohio State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) has won games in the past -- stuffing the run, limiting an overmatched opposing quarterback and leaning on the defense to pull it out. Meyer even gave defensive coordinator Luke Fickell an excited shove of appreciation on the field after the win, with fifth-year defensive end Nathan Williams saying the game plan put together by Fickell was the best he had ever seen as a Buckeye. Michigan State star running back Le'Veon Bell, the nation's third-leading rusher -- averaging 153 yards per game -- coming in, was held to 45 rushing yards on 17 carries.

Williams called that performance "amazing" and said, "I hope Nebraska looks at this tape and realizes they can't run on us."

The Cornhuskers visit Ohio Stadium next Saturday, with the Buckeyes feeling like this win over the No. 20 Spartans (3-2, 0-1) gave them a confidence boost after a sometimes-shaky nonconference season.

"Michigan State was supposed to have one of the best defenses in the Big Ten," OSU cornerback Bradley Roby said, "so we wanted to come out and show we were the best defense in the Big Ten."

Williams also said he knew Fickell, in his first season calling the defensive signals, had come under some fire this week for a defense that had allowed the most yards in the Big Ten.

"I definitely have his back, and I know the whole defense does," Williams said.

Ohio State's Bradley RobyOhio State sophomore cornerback Bradley Roby on the Buckeyes' defense in the win over Michigan State on Sept. 29, 2012.

Roby said the defense was reminded of that last-place standing in total yardage during the week. So the Buckeyes asked their corners to play a lot of man coverage, and they threw their linebackers and safeties at the line to plug any holes that the defensive line wasn't already filling.

"It was everyone filling their gaps and building a wall," OSU linebacker Ryan Shazier.

The Buckeyes have had tackling issues, and that fact was glaringly exposed on Michigan State's go-ahead touchdown when at least five Buckeyes either trying to strip the ball or make a big hit instead of wrapping up failed to take down Keith Mumphery on a 29-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter. But it wasn't an issue with the 240-pound Bell, because he could rarely find a hole.

"That was the plan," OSU defensive lineman John Simon said. "We really challenged ourselves. We really wanted to stop this run, and it was big for us to shut him down."

"We've seen him get going before on tape, and it's all bad news," Williams said. "So we didn't give him the opportunity to let him get going downhill. We closed the gaps and played great defense."

The Buckeyes outgained Michigan State, 383 yards to 303. Spartans quarterback Andrew Maxwell was forced to throw 42 times, completing 22 passes for 269 yards. The OSU defense dialed up several crucial blitzes on third down, as the Spartans made a first down just four times out of 15.

It was a defensive win. It was a Big Ten win. And it was nothing like those 70-60 games you might see in some other conferences. Meyer will take this kind of win, right?

"Oh, no, no," Meyer said. "We've got to score more points on offense. That's good defense. But I like a 70 every once in a while."

KEY TO THE GAME

What we said before the game: Get more than one huge play from Braxton Miller.

What happened in the game: The benchmark for a "huge" play was set at 40 yards. And the Buckeyes got exactly one of them, and that was enough to win by one point.

The 63-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Devin Smith with 3:05 to play in the third quarter was the only truly backbreaking play for a Michigan State defense that gave up 383 yards to the Buckeyes but also forced three Miller turnovers.

Miller carried the ball 23 times for 136 yards, and no one was complaining about him toting it too often. He had two big runs of 20 and 14 yards, but nothing devastating. He also completed passes of 24, 18, 16 and 16 yards, but only the 63-yarder was a game-changer.

Michigan State's longest play, by the way, was a 35-yard completion from Andrew Maxwell to Bennie Fowler.

So Ohio State didn't need more than one play like that from Miller. But that one is what gave the Buckeyes a victory.

Next for Ohio State: vs. Nebraska at Ohio Stadium, Saturday, 8 p.m.

Game notes: Ohio State and Michigan State
met for the 41st time on the gridiron since the
first meeting in 1912. . . . This was OSU’s first
game in Spartan Stadium in four years, or since
the 2008 season. Ohio State won the most recent
meeting in East Lansing, 45-7, in 2008. . . . This
was Ohio State’s first game on grass this year,
and its first win on grass in a while. Ohio State
was 0-3 on grass fields in 2011 (losses at Miami,
Purdue and Florida at the Gator Bowl). . . . Ohio
State is now 71-24-4 in Big Ten openers. . . . Ohio
State QB Braxton Miller entered the game
averaging 110.2 rushing yards per game and is
seventh in the NCAA in scoring at 11.5 points
per game. . . . Ohio State’s longest win streak in
the series is eight games between 1975 and ’84.
. . . Michigan State’s longest win streak is three
games, the first three times the teams played
(1912, 1951 and 1953). . . . The most recent
shutout in the series came in 1979, a 42-0
Buckeyes win. (Compiled from OSU game notes)

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